Our section hasn't had a post since the 23rd! It's good to see all our XJ40's are sailing along in good shape.

With that said, anyone tackle a VCM 26? Mine triggered that Friday. It went away, but I'm going to dive in anyway.

We have been way below freezing the last 7 days straight. I drive early, 5am daily and get the worst of it. I have been driving in 0-5 degree mornings all last week. My black 90 VDP is my winter car of choice, she carries along well in those conditions, but doesn't idle as well as she normally does. I'm hoping it's just the bitter air. We will see.

 

Out of curiosity....

I grew up in North Dakota (I know cold) and we plugged our cars in to utilize the head-bolt heater component, even if the car was garaged. Does your vehicle have a head-bolt heater? Does Jaguar make them for the vehicles?

 

My 94 does Rob, didn't know that was a Jag bit, thought it was after-market? Thinking about it though, maybe Canadian models had it as standard equipment?

 

I haven't heard of one in our XJ40's. In the 80's I used to use and electric dip stick though.

 

Hah! In the 70's I used a kerosene catalytic heater under the oil sump of my old Austin *** or I wasn't going anywhere in winter!

 

i knew there was a reason i moved to Florida! hehe

 

You drove an *** and, in the winter as well ! You were lucky to come out in one piece. Didn't you ever turn it over ?......Roger.

 

My 94 has molded into the lower radiator a built in coolant heater. There must have been a power cord that would plug into the hose and then into an outlet. And I'm pretty sure the hoses are OE and probably are all due to need replacing!! Cary

 

Turn it over? You mean like roll it, or sell it?

I did sell it eventually (I think) but not before driving it from Vancouver to Winnipeg and back to Vancouver, pulling a loaded trailer in early February

Almost made it all the way back unscathed but burned a valve two blocks from home ..that's when I did my first head job!

 

Hi Lawrence, Yes, I meant roll over BUT, my memory had let me down. It was the Austin A35 that was notorious for that, in the UK.......Roger.

 

I had one of those too (actually an A30, very similar), never rolled it but it had a few probs, mainly due to me fitting an A35 tranny without checking that the drive shaft length and tranny mounts were different.
Fixed it by cutting open the transmission tunnel with a can opener and slipping a seat belt under the tranny, tied to passenger and driver's side door handles. Worked for a week or two (sort of; as long as you tightened the seat belt from time to time) but finally failed when the belt snapped, drive shaft fell out and the car pole vaulted into a ditch.

Those were the days!!

 

Hi Lawrence, Nice try with the seat belt. Next time use a chain, with some rags wound around on the bits that touch sensitive parts......Roger.

 

In reply to #1, sadly I think that it is more due to XJ40's going to that Jag yard in the sky.

I've not posted a tech issue about my XJ40 for quite a while.

It is now quietly rusting away under a cherry tree and will never be on the road again. (unless some more money than sense type wants to reshell it).

Shame really because mechanically it is spot on.

 

Water Heater - always denied to exist by Jaguar Dealers in the UK but listed as a factory supplied accessory in the brochures for for Canada and US (item 8):



Finding a replacement Lower Hose (item 7 - P/N CCC4711) could be a challenge nowadays!

Graham

 

#13. Richard, NOOOOOOOO!!! Well actually, I think you are right. Those of us who continue to drive them are really quite enamored of them. I have noticed that the XJ40s have a growing positive presence in some of the Jaguar magazines as well. So, while I'm hopeful for the future, I recognize it will always be a niche collectable - i.e. not worth much... My '91 is in amazing condition. Not a lick of rust and mechanically sound. Still, I wonder sometimes if and when I let it go, will the next person care as much? And how long will it take for the car to eventually go to the "Jag yard in the sky"? On the other hand, if I keep it forever (AHHH!) I think it will last forever. My '94, on the other hand, is a really pretty car but is being used as a daily driver that will eventually wear out; and I know there will come a point when I no longer want to keep it as my daily transportation. It's perhaps one owner away from the scrapyard, or perhaps I AM the last owner... You are right, it all is rather too bad. Good car.

Scott

 

Hi George - VCM 26

Possible faults for a FF26 are :

- Low fuel pressure (plugged filter, weak pressure regulator on fuel rail, plugged system)
- Intake manifold air leak (vacuum hoses, intake manifold gasket, evap system hose rot, egr pipe rusted out, problem with air injection system (leaking valve).
- Ignition misfire, (bad plug, wires, cap, rotor)
- Purge valve stuck open (vacuum leak in evap system)
- Oxy sensor fault (not common)
- Bad maf sensor or connections.

hth

 

You guys in Europe really have a lot of trouble with rust - in the Pacific Northwest the '40's end up getting junked due to mechanical problems or excessive dealer/maintenance/parts costs - not many suffer from rust that I have seen.

Too bad! Maybe get another one with no rust and swap out your bits?